Hit record jobs

FDI hits record $47.2b in 2008 (27-08-2008) Taiwan tops list of 38 nations and territories by investing $8.6 billion in 112 projects.
The spillway of the Son La Hydroelectric power plant is 140m in height. Hydroelectric power is a key economic sector in the country. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngoc Ha
HA NOI — Despite high inflation and slow economic growth, Viet Nam remained an attractive destination in the eyes of foreign investors who pumped a record US$47.2 billion into the economy in the first eight months this year, more than four times last year. The number of new foreign direct investment (FDI) projects hit 772, down 20 per cent from last year. However, they still contributed a combined registed investment capital at $46.3 billion, a five-fold increase on last year, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) reported yesterday at a meeting in Ha Noi. According to the ministry, the investment capital of each new project averaged $60 million, much higher than in … [Read more...] about FDI hits record $47.2b in 2008

TOKYO, Aug 28, 2009 (AFP) - Japan announced Friday its jobless rate hit a record high last month, raising doubts about prospects for an economic recovery and dealing a blow to Prime Minister Taro Aso ahead of a weekend election. Worries about deflation also deepened after consumer prices fell at the steepest ever pace and consumer spending declined, highlighting the economy's fragile state despite its return to positive growth in the second quarter. The jobless rate rose to a worse than expected 5.7 percent in July, up from 5.4 percent in June, the government said. The total number of unemployed people rose by about one million from a year earlier to 3.59 million as companies slashed costs to cope with the worst recession in decades. It is yet another setback to Aso's long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which is trailing far behind the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in opinion polls ahead of Sunday's general election. "There's no doubt the job situation is … [Read more...] about Japan’s jobless rate hits record high

LONDON, October 8, 2010 (AFP) - Gold and tin hit record highs this week as the dollar slid on worries over the US economic recovery, with the weaker currency boosting demand, analysts said.
Investors are betting that the US authorities will have to take more stimulus measures to keep an unsteady recovery on track.
A weaker US currency tends to boost demand and prices for dollar-priced commodities such as metals and crude oil as they become cheaper for buyers using stronger currencies.
Supply concerns added to the price pressures on several commodities.
PRECIOUS METALS: Gold struck a series of record highs, with the top at 1,364.77 dollars an ounce on Thursday.
Sister metal silver reached its best level for 30 years, at 23.48 dollars an ounce and palladium hit a nine-year peak of 604 dollars an ounce.
Expectations of fresh stimulus "from the US central bank are helping to underpin prices, while worsening data could only tip policymakers' decision towards yet another … [Read more...] about Gold, tin prices hit record highs

Textile, clothing shipments to hit record high By Quoc Hung - The Saigon Times Daily HCMC – Vietnam’s overall textile and clothing export volume is expected to hit an all-time high of US$6.16 billion in the first six months of this year. Le Tien Truong, deputy general director of Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex), said the total apparel export turnover in the first half of this year is estimated to increase 30% year-on-year, the highest growth rate in the past five years. He added that with large amounts of capital flowing into the textile and clothing sector, its projected target of over US$13 billion in 2011 is within reach. In June alone, apparel exports topped US$1.15 billion, a month-on-month increase of 11%, Truong said. Textile and clothing exports of Vinatex alone in the first six months have reached US$1.22 billion, an increase of 32% compared to the same period last year. Truong said the U.S., European and Japanese markets were the biggest … [Read more...] about Textile, clothing shipments to hit record high

Eurozone unemployment jumped to an all-time high in February, hitting southern nations the hardest as the social toll from the debt crisis grips the 17-nation bloc, official figures showed Monday.
The jobless rate rose for the 10th consecutive month, hitting 10.8 percent to set a 15-year record for the 17 nations sharing the single currency, according to the Eurostat agency.
Eurozone leaders have vowed to pursue growth and jobs strategies to fend off a looming recession but they insist that unpopular budget cuts and structural reforms must continue in order to restore market confidence after two years of crisis.
In another sign that recession is gripping the region, a key survey showed that manufacturing activity dropped to a three-month low in March, with the "malaise" spreading to top economies Germany and France.
"It looks odds-on that Eurozone GDP contracted again in the first quarter of 2012 after a drop of 0.3 percent quarter-on-quarter in the fourth quarter of 2011, … [Read more...] about Eurozone unemployment hits record as debt crisis bites